House fire murder accused dies in prison

Bryonie Gawith and her three children Denisty, Oscar and Aubree Birtle all died in the house fire in Bradford in August 2024

One of the men accused of killing a mother and her three children in a house fire in Bradford last year has died in custody.

Mohammed Shabir was due to stand trial in November for the murder of Bryonie Gawith, 29, and nine-year-old Denisty, five-year-old Oscar and 22-month old Aubree Birtle, who all died in the blaze on Westbury Road in August 2024.

Mr Shabir and his co-defendants, Sharaz Ali and Calum Sunderland, all denied the murders, as well as the attempted murder of Ms Gawith's sister, Antonia Gawith.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice said that 45-year-old Shabir, of Carlby Grove in Keighley, died in at HMP Leeds on Wednesday.

They added: "As with all deaths in custody, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will investigate."

Mr Ali, who was seriously injured in the fire, and Mr Sunderland are both still due to stand trial at Bradford Crown Court on 17 November.

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